NFL Draft Day 2020 Part 1

For today’s NFL Draft, I will looking at players to watch, predict who will be drafted and report the actual draft selection. In Part 1, we will look at some players (recognized and under-the-radar) that are available in this year’s draft. Let’s begin…

JUSTIN HERBERT – QB, OREGON

Big, talented full-field scanner able to find the right read and sling it around the yard from the pocket or on the move. Herbert rushed throws in 2018, but he showed marked improvement in that area, excluding the Auburn opener. He trusts his protection while working through coverages and route development and has big-boy arm talent and drive velocity to stress and impress defenses. He’s confident attacking downfield, but touch throws evade him and may have created tentativeness with certain short and intermediate throws. Ball placement requires additional emphasis, but upgrading to NFL skill talent could help him bloom. Herbert has a high ceiling and is the most physically gifted quarterback in the draft, but he doesn’t have as many “wow” plays as expected for someone with his traits, experience and potential. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Justin Herbert reminds me a lot of Mitchell Trubisky. Whoever drafts him will definitely needs to work with him heavily to lessen his mistakes.

CLYDE EDWARDS HELAIRE – RB, LSU

Compact, sudden back who runs low to the ground with power and balance to break tackles and the agility to bob, weave and shake them in tight quarters. Edwards-Helaire runs with instinctive eyes and quick-cut foot speed. He doesn’t really have tells or tendencies and can alter the rush track when needed, which makes him so unpredictable for defenses. While he can create for himself, he’s better off working inside-out as NFL linebackers might be able to outflank him on pure outside runs. He has pop behind his pads but lacks short-yardage size. He has the talent to become a good, three-down back in time, but needs to improve in pass protection. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Edwards Helaire has the ability to become a world-class RB in the future. However, due to other position group being more heavily targeted this year, Clyde Edwards Helaire may drop into the second round (great for the Texans, who have no first round picks).

JOE BURROW – QB, LSU

People’s champ with rags-to-riches story arc culminating in one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in sports history. He’s self-assured and plays with competitive toughness that teammates will gravitate toward instantly. He’s a rhythm passer who benefited from tempo and scheme, but his vision, touch and read recognition made the offense special. He buys time for himself inside the pocket, but creates explosive, off-schedule plays outside of it with his arm or legs. He throws with staggering precision and timing, but he recognizes his own arm-strength constraints and is forced to shrink the field accordingly. His 2018 tape and unremarkable physical traits could clutter his evaluation for some, but he appears to be an outlier who simply developed and blossomed beyond those evaluation concerns. He’s a smart quarterback with special intangibles and could become a Pro Bowler if a team tailors its offense to his specific strengths and comfort level. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Burrow is a mixture of Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson. This man will become a world-class QB very soon.

ISAIAH SIMMONS – LB, CLEMSON

Ascending hybrid talent with rare length, speed and versatility to create mismatches for the offense, depending upon alignment. He has a bachelor’s at three positions (slot corner, safety, linebacker) but could earn a master’s degree in complex workload with a more focused and defined job description than “jack-of-all-trades.” He can handle zone or man coverage from a variety of spots on the field, which gives defensive coordinators a chance to disguise blitz packages and exotic post-snap looks. He’ll miss run fits and can be misdirected due to a lack of instincts near the line, but his playmaking range outweighs those concerns for now. His unique potential to spy and shrink the field against dual-threat quarterbacks could push him way up the draft board. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: What is Isaiah Simmons best position? That is the question for the team that drafts him today. Is it really LB,or can he switch to S or EDGE? All I know is Simmons is gonna be very good someday.

TRISTAN WIRFS – OT, IOWA

Right tackle with elite body type and freaky testing potential who might fall victim to elevated expectations based upon traits and Iowa pedigree. He has tremendous core strength and moves smoothly, over-sets and isn’t the explosive drive-blocker former Iowa star tackle Brandon Scherff was. Wirfs has tools to handle gap-blocking duties while thriving in outside zone. If Wirfs can learn to play inside out and add a more effective jump-set into his repertoire, he could take a big step forward. Consistency of play could take some time, but he has the ability to become a good starter at either right tackle or guard. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Out of all the OT talents this year, I rank Tristan Wirfs at number two. He’s still gonna be a top three tackle in the future, but you’re probably wondering who I have as the number one OT tackle.

JEDRICK WILLS – OT, ALABAMA

Wills falls below the height/length norm for tackles, but his quick, well-timed punches and varied approach prevent defenders from finding rush rhythms and using length against him. Agility and body control allow him to handle move-blocking duties successfully, but his leverage and elite transference of power from hips to his hands provide a big advantage as a body mover at the point of attack. His desire to control each snap occasionally leads to over-sets and lunging in an effort to stay ahead of opponents. Wills is one of the most impressive tackles in the draft; he has basketball-caliber foot quickness and the quick hands of a boxer, and all of it is wrapped in a stout, powerful package of bad intentions. His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is good starter to All-Pro. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: By far the best OT talent in this draft, Jedrick Wills has the skills to become a top tackle in the future.

DENZEL MIMS – WR, BAYLOR

Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight and speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches. If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous “Z” receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: The first TX product on this list, Mims has the ability to become a world-class WR in the NFL. Hailing from Daingerfield (east of Dallas up in the Ark-LA-TX), Denzel Mims went to Baylor where he was (unfortunately) part of the 28-3 loss against Oklahoma late in the season.

CHASE YOUNG – DE, OHIO STATE

Elite size, length and athleticism created loads of production and a vaulted pro projection, but Young’s set of disruptive properties have yet to be fully weaponized. He’s fairly basic as a pass rusher, with just a couple of go-to moves and an occasional inside counter, and yet he still managed 16.5 sacks in 2019. He has the traits to overwhelm many of the tackles he faces, and it won’t take long for teams to add a bull-rush, a rip-and-run and a stab counter into his repertoire. He plays a little upright at the point of attack, and his ball awareness is below average, but those concerns aren’t enough to counterbalance his range and agility as a run defender. Young possesses superior traits and the ability to wreck and alter offensive game-plans as a perennial All-Pro. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Without a doubt the best defensive prospect in this draft, Young will become a great edge rusher very soon.

And now some Second Rounders…

VAN JEFFERSON – WR, FLORIDA

Versatile, skilled receiver who has played all three receiver spots but is likely to do most of his damage from the slot. Jefferson has average size and won’t run away from quality man coverage, but he will separate from it with premium route-running and unique looks and angles that keep cornerbacks on their heels. He needs to prove he can deal with NFL size and strength banging on him at the catch point. Jefferson is a pro-ready receiver whose skill level and competitive nature outweigh average explosiveness and he should find quick work as a WR3/WR4. – NFL.com

JORDAN LOVE – QB, UTAH STATE

Challenging evaluation for quarterback-needy teams balancing traits and potential against disappointing 2019 tape. Staff turnover and new starters across the offense are partly to blame for his regression, but self-made flaws in process were also concerns. Love’s accuracy took a step back, and his delayed reaction from “see it” to “throw it” when making reads is troubling. He has the arm to stick throws into tight windows but needs better eye discipline and anticipation to keep windows open. His size, mobility and arm talent combined with his 2018 flashes could be a winning hand that leads a team into the future or a siren’s song of erratic play and unfulfilled potential. – NFL.com

JOSH JONES – OT, U OF H

Early tape would suggest that Jones is a raw, developmental project in need of substantial technique work, but tape study later in the season suggests a level of improvement that creates additional intrigue for the long, athletic left tackle prospect. To be clear, he needs plenty of work with his pass sets and footwork, but most of his issues appear to be coachable. He’s a good fit for a move-oriented rushing attack and has the traits and talent to become a future starter if he continues to develop with coaching. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: Hailing from Richmond, Josh Jones has enough talent that could get him picked in the first round. Root for him should he get picked tonight.

LLOYD CUSHENBERRY – C, LSU

Starting-caliber center with big hands, long arms and good core strength to match power on power when needed. Cushenberry isn’t rigid or stiff, but he does have some limitations with lateral quickness, which show up against athletic edge rushers and with potential run game limitations in space. He’s extremely difficult to bull-rush and is rarely beaten to the punch in his pass sets. LSU was frequently tasked with five-man protections in its passing scheme, which put Cushenberry on more of an island than he will see as a pro, so scouts should account for that. He’s a do-your-job prospect with the strength to handle an odd-front nose and could be a long-time starter. – NFL.com

JAVON KINLAW – DT, SOUTH CAROLINA

For a player with so many elite physical traits, Kinlaw’s tape was much more inconsistent than expected. He had moments where he was able to use his size, length and power to overwhelm opponents, but poor pad level and an inability to harness his energy coming off the snap led to body control and balance issues that prevented him from reaching his full potential. He can be a disruptive force along the interior with that explosive first step and freaky physical gifts, but utilizing his heavy hands and plus length as a read-and-react 3-4 end might allow for improved technique, control and consistency. No matter the front, Kinlaw’s traits and potential could make him a solid starter early in his career. – NFL.com

My Two Cents: This is a another guy who has potential to be picked up in the first round. Keep an eye on him. If he does fall,the Texans should be ready to pick him in the second round.

NEVILLE GALLIMORE – DT, OKLAHOMA

Flash talent whose tape has moments but fails to fully deliver. Gallimore goes hard from snap to whistle with secondary effort that brings decent production, but his NFL potential may be limited by a lack of leverage and contact balance. Oklahoma had him playing in the gaps but he might be more effective improving his hands and learning to two-gap. Unless he turns the flashes into a finished product, his future may be as a rotation tackle in an even front. – NFL.com

BRADLEE ANAE – DE, UTAH

Anae’s tape tends to grow on you the more you watch with his revved-up motor and salty disposition showing up in every game. He’s fairly skilled and instinctive as an upfield rusher with a threatening upfield burst and a relatively diverse approach to climbing past tackles. He’s not a natural bender or the longest edge defender and he’s much better at attacking blockers than defending his territory against the run. He has the size, hands and strength to play standing or with a hand down, but may have a better chance of becoming a starter as a rush linebacker in a 3-4. – NFL.com

DARNAY HOLMES – CB, UCLA

Short, strong cornerback with good aggression but troubling tape in terms of staying connected to routes. Tight hips and a lack of coverage instincts are a challenging combination for a cornerback who can be over-responsive to route movements. He plays with good toughness and decent ball skills, but he lacks functional length and struggles to flip hips and reach top gear quickly, which could make him a sitting duck against vertical challenges. – NFL.com

KYLE DUGGER – S, LENOIR-RHYNE

It’s rare to find a safety with elite size, speed, explosiveness and production at a Power 5 school and almost impossible to find one at a Division II school. Dugger crammed the stat sheet full and used those elite traits to dominate the opposition. At times, he seems bored with his level of competition, but his engagement can be instant and urgent when it needs to be. He plays with controlled violence and carries an alpha demeanor on the field. He has soft hands and is rangy, but needs to train his eyes and improve his fundamentals before he’s coverage-ready. Dugger is a versatile, scheme-friendly safety who helps immediately on special teams and could develop into a talented NFL starter. – NFL.com